The South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe is honored to present the honorary National Future Farmers of America Organization (FFA) jacket ceremony to Bobby "Bob" Franc Edmonds.

Seventy-five years ago, Bob Edmonds should have received his FFA jacket. A native to McCormick County, he was born to a humble family that lived in a two-room cabin. Edmonds joined the National FFA Organization in September of 1945, at just thirteen years old. During this time, he could not receive his FFA jacket because his family “simply could not afford it.”  So, instead of wearing his memories on his sleeve, Bob Edmonds treasured those special and fond memories in his heart.

In 1950, Edmonds graduated from McCormick County High School. Upon his graduation, Edmonds joined the South Carolina State Highway Department and studied highway engineering at Piedmont Technical College.  In 1973, he was promoted to resident maintenance engineer and was awarded the State Resident Maintenance Engineer of the Year in 1984.  Known for his professional photography and books, Edmonds has sixteen published books on local history for which he received the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto.

Through all his achievements, he is most proud of his family. Marring the love of his life Kathryn, at the McKissick Memorial Chapel, on the John de la Howe campus, the two celebrate almost sixty-seven years of marriage. The pair have one daughter, Bonnie Franc, who is married and has two children, Mallory and Darby. In addition, Bob and Kathy now have two great-grandchildren, Ryland Franc, and Kennedy Noel.

Edmonds' love for service is evident as he helped lead the McCormick County Library to receive a new building. The “Bobby F. Edmonds South Carolina and Local History Room” honors his achievement and leadership on the project.  Since 1980, Bob has served on the McCormick Soil and Water Conservation District Board.  Additionally, Edmonds was the founder of the McCormick County’s Cattlemen’s Association and was an original member of the McCormick Country Forestry Association.

His love for agriculture and desire to own land ran deep. Gifted by his father, Bob received a 10-acre piece of land that now is the home of Ceder Hill Farms, a 575- acre farm.  His love for agriculture inspired him to help the future generation of ag students as he helps secure scholarships annually for students at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe. Through his partnership with the Governor’s for Agriculture’s students and FFA, the school wanted to honor his achievements and his love for helping the next generation. Tim Keown, president of the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture, thought of no better way to celebrate a man who has devoted his life to service than to give him the one thing he had never received, his FFA jacket.

One of the greatest honors for an FFA member is to receive his or her FFA jacket. One of the most notable jackets, the FFA jacket, stands as a symbol of distinction and represents all those who have come before and the students who will join long after. This long-standing tradition was first debuted in 1933 at the National FFA Convention. Those who wear the jacket not only wear it with pride but with the knowledge that owning a jacket represents a lifestyle, a unification of members, and a token of tradition.  For Bob Edmonds, the day of owning an FFA jacket never came, until now.

In a ceremony celebrated by all students and staff, led by the School’s FFA officers, Edmonds finally received his blue corduroy jacket. Edmonds said this ceremony brought back “so many good memories” and was honored to share this special day with the SC Governor’s School for Agriculture students.

Edmonds’ service and dedication are a beacon for all those around him. His life lessons and wisdom run deep in all areas, but especially in his agricultural journey. Although Bob Edmonds waited seventy-five years for his jacket, the pride and honor of being an FFA member came long before he put the keepsake on. May Bob Edmonds be a lesson to us all to follow the FFA motto deeply and truly, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”